One of the most haunting challenges of our time is to narrow the gap between the rapidly developing world and those parts which are lagging behind. Billions of people are moving towards a brighter future. But hundreds of millions are not. The challenge is new to present generations. Now we can radic…
Norway welcomes and strongly supports resolution 1701 (2006). We strongly encourage the parties to do their utmost to maintain the cessation of hostilities and transform it into a lasting ceasefire. We support the Secretary-General in his view that the recent Israeli military operation in the Bekaa …
Norway’s position on Security Council reform is well known. As we stated in our plenary meeting a year ago, on 12 July 2005, our main priorities have been to ensure that the Council operates coherently and efficiently and that the composition of the Council reflects the current configuration of the …
Norway is following the dramatic situation in and around Gaza with deep concern. The situation is very serious. All parties must exercise the utmost restraint to prevent the situation
from getting completely out of control. The abduction of the Israeli soldier and the killing of the young Israeli s…
I would like to thank Ambassador Jones Parry for his briefing. I would also like to thank the Security Council mission to the Sudan for its comprehensive report on a very complex situation. I commend the Council and the Secretary- General for their active roles in the peace process for Sudan, as thi…
Twenty-five million people have been killed in the AIDS epidemic. That is half the number of people killed in the Second World War and 10 times the number killed in the Viet Nam War or in the recent crises in, say, the Congo or the Sudan. This is a major international crisis.
That begs the question…
Norway welcomes the adoption of this historic resolution. We join others in expressing our gratitude to you, Mr. President, and to our two Co-Chairs, Ambassador Kumalo from South Africa and Ambassador Arias from Panama, for the tireless efforts and dedication in bringing our long process of consulta…
Like others, I too would like to welcome the presence of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Tom Koenigs and to thank him for his briefing. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his extensive report on Afghanistan (S/2006/145).
There have been several achievements in Afgh…
Hardly any force is changing the world as rapidly as the force of migration. Allow me to speak on a personal note for a little while. When I was a young boy in Norway, not so many centuries ago, and Norway was an all-white — or maybe I should say all-pink — society and an all- Christian society, I m…
We have strengthened the United Nations today through the decision taken on the Peacebuilding Commission. But, equally important, we are now better placed to deal with complex post- conflict situations.
Mr. President, Norway would like to thank you and the co-Chairs of the informal consultations, t…
The world is witnessing important developments in the Middle East. We were encouraged by the way the Israeli Government showed great courage in implementing the withdrawal from Gaza and the northern West Bank this summer. We were also impressed by the dignified manner in which the evacuation was car…
Norway welcomes the successful holding of the parliamentary and provincial elections in Afghanistan. Another milestone has been passed. The institutional foundations of democracy are growing stronger. It is particularly encouraging to see the ethnic, ideological and professional diversity of the ele…
The General Assembly is the universal forum for discussing current issues regarding ocean affairs and the law of the sea. That is underlined by the breadth of the issues currently being dealt with within the broader framework of the Assembly. It is essential that all important discussions on the bro…
As we meet here in New York, some 300,000 Pakistanis are facing the coming winter in Kashmir without the necessary shelter and assistance. At the same time, an estimated 10 million people are facing drought and severe food shortages in Southern Africa. In both cases, the response from donors to Unit…
I would like to begin by expressing Norway’s recognition of the continued preparatory work carried out by the International Criminal Court over the past year. We have closely followed the Court’s transition from its establishment to the commencement of prosecutorial and judicial functions. The basic…
Central America has recently been severely struck by natural disasters, and we deeply regret the loss of human lives and the scores of victims in the wake of tropical storm Stan in El Salvador and Guatemala. We commend the Governments of El Salvador and Guatemala on their efforts to save lives and r…
This year has been one of unprecedented international attention to Africa’s development. Norway welcomes that. We are strongly committed to the fight against poverty, to working with African countries and institutions and — together with our international partners — to promoting a reform agenda that…
I would like to begin by expressing Norway’s full recognition of the achievements and high standards of the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and for the Former Yugoslavia, as reflected in the various well-reasoned judgements and in the reports before us. We would like to thank the Preside…
Please allow me to start my statement by bringing a message from a girl who was not given the opportunity to be here, but who has an important message.
“I still get bad dreams and wake up screaming. Even when I am not asleep, I get bad dreams. I hear rebels threatening to kill me. I see a long line…
I, too, congratulate you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its sixtieth session.
Sixty years ago, the United Nations rose out of the ashes of the Second World War. The creation of our Organization was the fulfilment of people’s hopes for a better and safer future. Norwa…
